Are schizophrenics a burden to their families? Significant others' views.

Concern about the effects of deinstitutionalization has generally related to the plight of former mental patients rather than to that of patients' families. In examining whether schizophrenic clients attending a community mental health center were burdensome to their families, this study focused on the perceptions of clients' significant others and concluded that burden and social supports might be related in important ways.